394 
2. Mr. Malcolm Gumming thanks the meeting for its good 
wishes and assures them he would do his best in their interests and 
for the Rubber Industry generally. 
Before proceeding with the business that had called them here, 
to-day, he expected they would wish him to say a few words. They 
would have either heard or read His Excellency’s speech on opening 
the Agricultural Show and they must be gratified to find how much 
of it was taken up by Rubber in posse, and in esse. They had 
to record their thanks to the Government for what had been done in 
the past year in their interests, i.e. the strengthening of the agricul- 
tural department and the passing of the Rubber Dealers’ Enactment ; 
which although framed to protect their interests, would need 
alteration and an adequate staff to carr}' out its provisions. He 
thought they would all endorse His Excellency’s remarks with regard 
to the loss sustained by the planting community by the resignation 
of Mr. Gallagher ; but they would be gratified to hear that the agricul- 
tural department was still further to be strengthened in the near future. 
From what His Excellency had said it would be inferred that six 
years hence we would be turning out rubber equal to the world’s 
production to-day. If his estimates are realized, this may be so, but 
they must not forget that the consumption of rubber was said to 
be increasing in an almost equal ratio, so that he hoped they 
need not be in despair, 
With reference as to what had been said and written with regard 
to labour in the F. M. S., there were no doubt many people at home 
and elsewhere who would infer from numerous news-paper articles 
that the planters are an inhuman body of persons. Apart from 
all moral obligations, it wouid not pay them, in view of their future 
labor requirements, to allow any hardship or cruelty and he would 
most emphatically and publicly deny on their behalf all such 
allegations. 
That in times of depression it must be acknowledged they were 
not in a position to study their own health or that of their coolies, he 
was prepared to admit; but generally throughout the Peninsula 
to-day he affirmed that every effort was being made to improve the 
health of the Asiatic and the European employees and he purposely 
put the coolies first. 
He must apologize lor taking so much of their time and he fell 
sure they would wish to place on record a very hearty vote of thanks 
- to the Executive of the Agricultural Show for the splendid arrange- 
ments they had made and their thanks for the hospitality accorded to 
them in Singapore. 
3. The Minutes of the previous Meeting are taken as read and 
confirmed. 
